High School Football Spring Sampler

New Albany
Coach: Ron Price
2012 Record: 8-5 overall, 5-0 Div. 2-4A
Spring Notes: Bulldogs looking to replace RB Boston Newsome, who logged 363 carries, and QB Spencer Day. … Devon Wilson, a power runner in the mold of Newsome, and speedster Terry Montgomery are the likely replacements at RB. … Brice Collins and Jimmy Baldon, two juniors, will battle for the QB job this spring. Baldon is a potential playmaker. … G Aaron Pipkin is the lone returning starter on the OL. … The Bulldogs also must replace five “quality” players on defense, Price noted.
Spring Game: Plays in Houston Jamboree scheduled for May 17 against Houston and Shannon.

Pontotoc
Coach: Scott Brown
2012 Record: 4-7 overall, 1-4 Div. 1-4A
Spring Notes: Brown, a former coach at Clinton High School, replaced Ken Byars. … The biggest chore during the 15 days of spring drills for the new coach and his staff will be learning their personnel. … Brown’s philosophy is to start with defense. “You find the best 11 players, put them on defense, and go from there,” he said. … Brown ran the option out of a shotgun formation at Clinton, but says personnel will dictate their scheme at PHS. The Warriors enter spring without any varsity experience at QB.
Spring Game: Will play May 16 in Kossuth Jamboree against Kossuth and Booneville.

Shannon
Coach: Darryl Carter
2012 Record: 3-8 overall, 2-3 Div. 1-4A
Spring Notes: The Red Raiders enter spring practice looking to replace a RB who rushed for 1,544 yards, 12 TDs last season in Diamante Pounds. He transferred after the season. … Chavis Dilworth could fill that role, along with playing QB, WR and DB. “He’s my do-it-all guy,” Carter said. … Four OL return along with all WR and most of the secondary. … Kendall Cox, a 6-foot-1, 250-pound QB who suffered a torn ACL last spring and didn’t play, gets his opportunity under center this fall in the spread attack.
Spring Game: Will play May 17 in a jamboree in Houston against Houston and New Albany.

Amory
Coach: Ben Ashley
2012 Record: 9-3 overall, 4-1 Div. 1-4A
Spring Notes: New head coach Ben Ashley says the primary goal is to find offensive linemen. … The baseball Panthers have at least six guys who will play key roles on the football team, but aren’t expected to take part in spring, including returning starting QB Jon David Poss. … Two of Amory’s graduated receivers signed scholarships, Dario Robinson to Southeastern Louisiana and Abaris Woodrick to Mississippi Valley State. … The Panthers will have a new offensive and defensive coordinator. … Senior ATH Fred Garth is back on the team and will play at least five different positions says Ashley.
Spring Game: Amory will play at Okolona on May 10.

Baldwyn
Coach: Michael Gray
2012 Record: 7-5 overall, 4-1 Div. 1-2A
Spring Notes: Baldwyn is aiming to see a big strength gain after a good weight room turnout. … ILB and depth along the OL, where Baldwyn lost four of the five, are the two biggest needs. …The Bearcats lost leading rusher Bradley Boose. Duke Upshaw and Laquintez Upshaw are two in a big group in that line. … Corbin Scott returns as a senior QB, with Duke Upshaw in the mix to take 10-15 snaps a game. … Baldwyn will also have to replace punter Nickey Long.
Spring Game: Baldwyn will host a jamboree on May 16, featuring Biggersville, Hatley and Thrasher.

Ripley
Coach: Chad Cook
2012 Record: 8-5 overall, 4-1 Div. 1-3A
Spring Notes: Tigers must replace QB Cody James, a Delta State signee who rushed and threw for a combined 3,348 yards and 43 TDs. … Everybody who blocked on offense is back. … Three players are vying for the quarterback position: sophomore Tucker Childress and seniors Christian Johnson and Dalton James. … Three defensive linemen are gone, but the linebacking group returns. … Dalton James is the brother of Cody, but more of a pocket passer.
Spring Game: Ripley will host a six-team jamboree on May 16, featuring Ashland, Falkner, Coldwater, Mooreville and Holly Springs.

Smithville
Coach: Bubba Tacker
2012 Record: 9-2 overall, 7-1 Div. 1-1A
Spring Notes: Smithville coach Bubba Tacker says the spring will be used to keep developing an already young team. … The Seminoles will look for a replacement for leading rusher Turner Sanderson. … Drew Lann returns at QB, but there are others in the mix. … Seminoles lost two on the OL, none on the DL. … Smithville is young, but losing a key senior in J.T. Pitts, who served a lot of roles. …
Spring Game: Smithville isn’t currently planning to play a spring game.